overthink

British

/ ˌəʊvəˈθɪŋk /

verb

to spend more time thinking about something than is necessary or productive

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When looking for the best ways to play the ongoing semiconductor boom this year, investors might not want to overthink things.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 9, 2026

"I started to overthink this and really focus on, I am the problem. I could see everybody was starting to feel down, because of me."

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025

The best bet for investors during this period may be to not overthink, especially with trading volumes so low.

From Barron's • Dec. 24, 2025

Mr. Brodsky offers up guidance on everything from productivity to “impression management techniques,” but perhaps the most important lesson is to be authentic and not overthink your digital exchanges with co-workers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

“I'll try to be more patient with your anxiety, and you try not to overthink everything.”

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023